HC Deb 02 March 1982 vol 19 cc75-6W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide information on childhood mortality for the years 1 to 14 for both Dundee and Scotland in the latest year.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Figures for 1980 are given in the following table:

Deaths of Children Aged 1 to 14 in Scotland and Dundee, 1980
Age Scotland Dundee
1–4 144 1
5–9 106 3
10–14 122 7

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the infant mortality rate and (b) the standardised mortality rate for retired males for both Dundee and Scotland in the latest available year.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The infant mortality rates for Dundee and Scotland in 1980 were, respectively, 6.5 and 12.1 per 1000 live births. The crude mortality rates for males aged 65 or over were, respectively, 74 and 78 per 1000 population. Standardising to the Scotland population 1980 leaves the crude rates unchanged.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the death rate by social occupational class I to V for ages 15 to 64 years for both Dundee and Scotland in the latest year;

(2) what was the standard mortality ratio for classes I to V for retired men in Dundee and Scotland in the latest year.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The latest available information for Scotland is contained in "Occupational Mortality 1969–73" published by the Registrar General for Scotland, a copy of which is in the Library. Mortality ratios for males by social occupational class and age group—including 65 years of age or over—are contained in table 5(a).

Information for Dundee is not readily available.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the infant and neo-natal mortality rates for Scotland and Sweden in the latest year; and if he will investigate the differences with a view to securing a reduction in the Scottish rate.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Figures for 1980 are given in the following table:

Infant and neo-natal mortality rates, 1980—rate per 1000 live births
Infant mortality* neonatal mortality
Scotland 12.1 7.8
Sweden 6.9 4.9
* Deaths in the first year of life.
Deaths in the first 4 weeks of life.

The Scottish position, which has been improving significantly over the last few years, is already being investigated in two research projects funded by my Department to examine and report on cases of infant mortality. A report on perinatal deaths in 1977 in Scotland has already been published and reports on perinatal and infant mortality in later years are in preparation.